LIMA — Allen County is now considered a high-risk community for COVID-19 transmission due to increasing rates of coronavirus cases and hospital admissions for the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s community risk tracker.
The advisory was elevated from medium to high risk on Friday, after Allen County saw 206 newly confirmed coronavirus cases and 14 hospital admissions in the previous seven days.
An estimated 2.5% of inpatient hospital beds were in use by patients with COVID-19 illness, an increase from the previous week, according to the most recent CDC data.
The CDC’s updated guidelines suggest everyone in Allen County should wear a well-fitting mask indoors regardless of their vaccination status to prevent further strain on hospital systems due to the rapid spread of the virus, although the recommendations are not mandated.
Some health care facilities like Lima Memorial Health System updated their COVID-19 policies Friday to reflect the CDC’s recommendation for universal masking in their facilities.
Those who are immunocompromised or at greater risk for severe illness should take additional precautions like wearing respirators and avoiding non-essential indoor activities, while other mitigation efforts like improved ventilation could help slow the spread of the virus.
The majority of Ohio counties are now considered by the CDC to be at high risk, while surrounding counties like Auglaize, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam and Van Wert counties remain under medium-risk advisories, during which masks are only recommended for those most likely to develop severe illness.
Still, Allen County Public Health on Friday noted that no deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been reported to the agency since March 30.
